pointing the end of his pistol right at Tempest's head.
“Don't even think about it, Ryker. One move and I'll blow her brains out. Put your gun down.” Ian forced his pistol against Tempest's temple. I did my best to avoid any eye contact with Tempest. One look from her and I'd go weak in the knees. I needed my whole focus on the task at hand. Our lives depended on it.
I placed my boot on Russel's dead neck and pressed down just a little. “Let Tempest go and I won't kill your brother.” Ian didn't need to know that his brother was already dead. He looked like he could be passed out. I didn't leave any visible marks on him.
“Let's not get too hasty here, Ryker. How are we going to settle this?” Ian was beginning to sweat. He knew I was just crazy enough to kill Russel. And he was right because I already did it. But I also knew he was evil enough to kill Tempest and not feel a thing.
“We settle this like we did back in school. No weapons. Just our fists,” I proposed.
Ian grinned the same way he used to back in school when a fight would break out. He loved the sound of bones crunching and the feeling of beating a kid within an inch of his life. I know because he told me. Ian tossed his gun to the side and I could hear Tempest breathe a sigh of relief. I lifted my boot off of Russel and dropped my AK to the ground.
Ian cracked his knuckles and raised his fists in a defensive stance. “Last time we got in a fight, I nearly killed you, Ryker. What makes you think this time will be any different?”
I craned my neck to side until it cracked and jumped on my toes to loosen my body up. “Last time I let you win. Wouldn't be good to beat the boss now would it?”
“Fucking liar,” Ian growled, charging at me and throwing the first punch. He was fast. But not fast enough. I ducked under and sent my fist flying into his stomach. Ian doubled over and bull rushed my legs. I lost my balance and fell over, crashing backwards onto the ground.
“You son of a bitch! You betrayed me!” Ian climbed on top of me and battered my face with blows. Every hit brought me back to the schoolyard. Those bullies used me as a punching bag everyday. Ian saved me from them but I realized that all I did was trade one bully for another.
Time to take back my life.
I brought my knee up with all the force I could muster and knocked Ian off. My head felt dizzy and I had to use my knee to lift myself off the floor. Ian grinned as he stood up to meet me. He always loved a good fight.
“This ends here, Ian. I won't be your bulldog any longer.”
Ian laughed. “You think you've already won? I taught you everything you know, Ryker. And I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
This time it was my turn to charge Ian. I gathered all the rage in my heart and channeled it into my fist. I swung hard and fast, aiming for Ian's head. His arm came up for a block and deflected my blow. Ian returned with an uppercut to my chin that sent my head rocking back. The dizziness became more apparent. I didn't know how many more blows I could take to the head.
“See how pathetic you've become, Ryker. Fighting to the death all for some junkie whore.” Ian pointed right at Tempest. “She's done this to you. Can't you see? You've become soft.”
I looked behind to see Tempest on the floor all tied up. She shook her head slowly, tears filling her eyes. Bad idea for Ian to mention Tempest. I didn't want to admit to myself that it was all for her.
But it was.
My love for Tempest rejuvenated me. My head became clear and my fists lighter. I faked with my right hand and surprised Ian with a left hook to the jaw. Bones cracked as Ian's head swiveled side to side. His blank stare gazed up at me as he fell to the ground.
I didn't even wait for him to hit the floor before I went to Tempest. “Are you okay?” I asked, bending down and examining her bloody lip.
Tempest nodded.
“Don't even think about it, Ryker. One move and I'll blow her brains out. Put your gun down.” Ian forced his pistol against Tempest's temple. I did my best to avoid any eye contact with Tempest. One look from her and I'd go weak in the knees. I needed my whole focus on the task at hand. Our lives depended on it.
I placed my boot on Russel's dead neck and pressed down just a little. “Let Tempest go and I won't kill your brother.” Ian didn't need to know that his brother was already dead. He looked like he could be passed out. I didn't leave any visible marks on him.
“Let's not get too hasty here, Ryker. How are we going to settle this?” Ian was beginning to sweat. He knew I was just crazy enough to kill Russel. And he was right because I already did it. But I also knew he was evil enough to kill Tempest and not feel a thing.
“We settle this like we did back in school. No weapons. Just our fists,” I proposed.
Ian grinned the same way he used to back in school when a fight would break out. He loved the sound of bones crunching and the feeling of beating a kid within an inch of his life. I know because he told me. Ian tossed his gun to the side and I could hear Tempest breathe a sigh of relief. I lifted my boot off of Russel and dropped my AK to the ground.
Ian cracked his knuckles and raised his fists in a defensive stance. “Last time we got in a fight, I nearly killed you, Ryker. What makes you think this time will be any different?”
I craned my neck to side until it cracked and jumped on my toes to loosen my body up. “Last time I let you win. Wouldn't be good to beat the boss now would it?”
“Fucking liar,” Ian growled, charging at me and throwing the first punch. He was fast. But not fast enough. I ducked under and sent my fist flying into his stomach. Ian doubled over and bull rushed my legs. I lost my balance and fell over, crashing backwards onto the ground.
“You son of a bitch! You betrayed me!” Ian climbed on top of me and battered my face with blows. Every hit brought me back to the schoolyard. Those bullies used me as a punching bag everyday. Ian saved me from them but I realized that all I did was trade one bully for another.
Time to take back my life.
I brought my knee up with all the force I could muster and knocked Ian off. My head felt dizzy and I had to use my knee to lift myself off the floor. Ian grinned as he stood up to meet me. He always loved a good fight.
“This ends here, Ian. I won't be your bulldog any longer.”
Ian laughed. “You think you've already won? I taught you everything you know, Ryker. And I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
This time it was my turn to charge Ian. I gathered all the rage in my heart and channeled it into my fist. I swung hard and fast, aiming for Ian's head. His arm came up for a block and deflected my blow. Ian returned with an uppercut to my chin that sent my head rocking back. The dizziness became more apparent. I didn't know how many more blows I could take to the head.
“See how pathetic you've become, Ryker. Fighting to the death all for some junkie whore.” Ian pointed right at Tempest. “She's done this to you. Can't you see? You've become soft.”
I looked behind to see Tempest on the floor all tied up. She shook her head slowly, tears filling her eyes. Bad idea for Ian to mention Tempest. I didn't want to admit to myself that it was all for her.
But it was.
My love for Tempest rejuvenated me. My head became clear and my fists lighter. I faked with my right hand and surprised Ian with a left hook to the jaw. Bones cracked as Ian's head swiveled side to side. His blank stare gazed up at me as he fell to the ground.
I didn't even wait for him to hit the floor before I went to Tempest. “Are you okay?” I asked, bending down and examining her bloody lip.
Tempest nodded.
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